Why I-Day flag hoisting in Panjim?
Despite our State Secretariat having moved to Porvorim over two decades ago, the Independence Day State flag hoisting function strangely continues in front of the Old Secretariat at Panjim.
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In public interest, the Government should hold it at Porvorim instead of inconveniencing the public at Panjim. On every Independence Day the road opposite the Old Secretariat in Panjim is closed for traffic and unnecessary hassle is caused to the commuting public. People have to also face this brunt due to the rehearsals held some days prior to the event.
Along with the Independence Day, the Republic and Liberation Day functions could also be held at Porvorim. It would be good for security reasons too. Besides, in every State such functions are always held at the Government Secretariat which is the Seat of Power.
May better sense prevail and these State functions be held at the sprawling Secretariat Complex in Porvorim to ensure that the public are saved from needless traffic chaos in an already very congested Panjim.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Free water offer now by BJP govt
Close on the heels of the announcement of Arvind Kejriwal, CM of Delhi, that AAP will give free electricity to the people of Goa up to 300 units per month if AAP is elected to power, the Goa Government which criticised Kejriwal’s offer and never thought of giving such benefit to the people, has now announced that it will give free water up to 16K litres per month to them. Monetary wise, AAPs benefit of free electricity to the people comes to about Rs 600 per month whereas that of Goa Government is less than one-fourth of it.
Be that as it may, what the people of Goa really want is steady and uninterrupted supply of water and electricity. These are the basic requirements of the people and normally they should not suffer any inconvenience and hardship in getting them. But the reality is such that decades after the liberation of Goa, the people do suffer inconvenience and hardship. Both these services are managed by government departments and sadly their record is this area is not praiseworthy.
While the gesture of the government in offering free water will not go unappreciated, it must be said that monetary consideration is secondary, the primary one is steady supply of these two daily necessities of the people. Therefore, government should redouble its efforts to improve their supply and spare the people further inconvenience and hardship.
Rodney de Souza, Assagao
Provide aid for flower sellers
Festival is the time when flower-sellers make a living from the sale of flowers and garlands. However, for the past couple of years these flower-sellers had to go through hard times due to the pandemic. Festivals have become low-key affairs. Marigold flowers and garlands are much in demand during the Dussehra and other festivals. However, the Corona virus pandemic has resulted in a drop in the sale of the flowers. Zayo is another variety of flowers which was very much in demand. But now the pandemic and restrictions on the festivities has only meant that the sale of the flowers has dropped drastically. During the Vasco Saptah many flower sellers were seen doing brisk business by selling the flowers and garlands to the devotees who used to pay obeisance to Lord Damodar.
During the Sao Joao festival, flowers are used to make the kopel which was very much in demand. However, during the past couple of years there has been a drastic drop in the demand of flowers and garlands. All this has meant that those engaged in selling flowers and garlands are going through a tough time financially. Those selling garlands of Zayo by the roadside are conspicuous by their absence. The government needs to come to the aid of those poor people engaged in the flower business.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Changing party under guise of development!
Even after winning an election and if the politician is in the losing party, then instead of sitting in the opposition to give a tough time she/he conveniently joins the ruling party! The reasons given are that the old party had been stifling his/her progress, was feeling suffocated, dynastic rule, no respect given, etc. These self-realisations set in after years of being loyal to and even after having held high positions in the old party!
But of all these excuses the most pathetic is that by remaining in the opposition then developmental work in his/her constituency would not get done. If this is the logic then all politicians should be in the ruling party!
When the party jumpers (PJ) come again to ask for votes, ask them about the pending works and how much was completed after joining the ruling party. In most cases these PJ change parties for their self-development than for their people. Be wary of such PJ (poor jokers) for they put even the chameleons to shame.
Sridhar D’Iyer, Caranzalem
An unfolding humanitarian crisis
The theatre of the absurd playing out in Afghanistan is a tragedy of epic proportions. In a mad, almost suicidal scramble to leave the country seven people fell to their deaths off a US military transport plane departing from Kabul, haunting visuals of which would send a shiver down the strongest of spines.
Military historians and strategic analysts would spin out the familiar tropes like march of folly, graveyard of empires, tribal partisanship, etc, but the US armed forces abrupt departure from Afghanistan instead of a calibrated, orderly withdrawal was the last straw which broke the camel’s back. The Afghan president escaped to a neighbouring country with millions of dollars stashed in his helicopter while the ordinary citizens were left holding the can. Imagine the irony; it took America 4 presidents, thousands of lives, 2 trillion dollars and 20 years to replace Taliban with Taliban. The return of the Tails has huge security implications for India, with China swiftly moving in to the political vacuum to accord legitimacy to the new dispensation.
But maybe we can take cold comfort from the fact that those who play with fire are ultimately consumed by it as Britain, the erstwhile USSR and America have discovered much to their chagrin over the past century. For our Afghan brethren we hope and pray that there are no persecutions of women; the world needs to collectively ensure that Afghanistan does not become the next Syria in this Great Game set in motion by supposed global policemen masquerading as saviours.
V Dwivedi, Benaulim
Open places of worship
Over the last two months I have been noticing that the State Government is opening up everything in Goa to at least 50% of its capacity except places of worship. Places of worship are allowed to have only 15 persons at a time. The Government knows very well that it is not possible for Catholics and Muslims to worship with only 15 people at a time due to their system of community prayer. Why is the Government doing this discrimination on the basis of religion? Is it that the Corona virus affects only those who go to churches and mosques or are we seeing the communal side of our Government?
Today the State is facing a lot of problems and the third wave may hit us anytime. This is only because the govt has given last place to God and is playing politics in the name of religion. I appeal to our Govt to stop this discrimination and open the religious places of worship to at least 50% of its capacity or be prepared to face the consequences.
Avelino de Sa, Miramar
